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UK fracking should not threaten public health

By Michael Marshall

AVOID leaks and frack away. Whatever the other problems with drilling for shale gas in the UK, the risk to public health is low, says a government report.

The US has embraced fracking for shale gas but the UK is yet to follow suit, and an exploratory site in Balcombe attracted a storm of protests. A key concern is that gas or the fluids used during the process might release pollutants, possibly into drinking water.

The biggest risk is from the boreholes drilled to reach the shale. Fluids and gas can escape through the wells’ sides if they are not sealed. PHE says this must be strictly monitored and regulated.

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Mike Stephenson of the British Geological Survey doubts that this will reassure a sceptical public&colon; “People worry about things they can’t see.” He recommends the UK follows the example set by the government of Alberta, Canada, which has promised to put all the data from its tar sands operations online, in real time.